Page 54 of Naturally Naughty


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“I’m keeping a low profile, though one of my father’s friends asked me to move back and run for mayor next year.”

“Will you?” She held her breath waiting for his answer.

“Not on your life.”

She nearly sighed in relief. Why would it matter to you if he came back here, married the local big-haired town princess and stayed forever? She didn’t know why, she only knew it would matter.

Somehow, even though she’d told herself nothing was going to happen between them, Kate couldn’t imagine being in Chicago, knowing Jack wasn’t there somewhere, in that big bustling city, stopping traffic on the street with his smile and teaching his Tae Kwon Do classes. Tackling intruders and doing fix-it work on a needy woman’s house.

Their eyes met, and somehow Kate knew Jack had read her thoughts. He knew she liked him, and she felt drawn to him.

Kate’s eyes widened as Jack stepped close, until she was backed up against the kitchen counter, and he pressed almost neck to toe against her body. “I’m looking forward to a lot of things changing when I get back to Chicago, Kate.” He lifted a hand to her face, softly caressing her cheekbone, then touching a strand of her hair. “Changing for both of us.”

Before she could ask him to explain, he’d turned back to the stove. Kate clutched the counter and sucked in a few deep breaths, trying to regain her composure. By the time breakfast was ready, she felt completely calm and relaxed, or at least she thought she looked that way—no point in wondering if he knew she was still edgy and aware, and now very curious about what he’d meant about things changing between them.

“So, Jack, what else do you do in your real life. You’re an architect. Ever designed anything I’ve actually heard of?”

He answered with a question. “Like to go shopping?”

“Does Imelda Marcos like shoes?”

He chuckled. “My firm designed the new Great Lakes Mall. I managed the project.”

She gave a little whistle of appreciation. “Nice. Anything else?”

He named a few more buildings Kate instantly recognized, particularly the stores and shopping centers. “Sounds like retail’s your niche.”

“Mmm-hmm. If you ever decide to open a new Bare Essentials, let me know.”

If only you knew…

“How’d you get into architecture? Didn’t Daddy want you to follow in his footsteps and become a lawyer?”

“I prefer to build things, not tear them apart, which is what lawyers seem to spend a lot of their time doing.” He flipped their omelets onto two plates and carried them to the table. “I really built things when I was going to college. I worked for a construction company in L.A. every summer.”

“I somehow pictured you surfing your way through college.”

“Ha! I tried it once and the damn board almost tore my ear off. After I wiped out, it hit me in the head. I still have the scar.” He turned his head, pushing his hair up with his fingers. Kate bit her lip. Unable to resist, she stepped closer, until the toes of her sandals nearly touched his bare feet.

His hair was still slightly damp with sweat from his workout, and his skin still glowed with energy. She gulped, trying to ignore her response, and examined the thin scar that ran from just under his earlobe into his hairline.

If she wasn’t mistaken, she might have kissed that spot during their interlude at the theater. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Ouch,” she murmured.

He seemed to notice her sudden intensity, and her closeness. Her face was inches from his neck, and she inhaled deeply, smelling his musky warmth. She closed her eyes briefly, remembering what it had been like to kiss him. To touch him.

Lord help her, she still wanted him so much she could barely stand up. She wanted to nibble on his neck, to taste his earlobe, to feel his body get all sweaty again—preferably while it was on top of hers. Inside hers.

“You ready?” he asked, letting his hand fall to his side.

She nodded dumbly. “Uh-huh.” Ready for just about anything.

“Do you like it spicy?”

Spicy? Oh, yeah, she loved it spicy. “Yeah. Real spicy.”

“I think there’s Tabasco sauce in the fridge.”

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